Students from the University of Ibadan have won the Abuja Global Shapers Emerging Leaders Program Grant of $3,250 to renovate and equip a dispensary at Oke-Ola Farm Settlement in Ogbomosho South LG of Oyo State. The students had pitched before a team of 7 panelists including a Director of Ventures Platform.

The winners were chosen from a pool of 3 finalists: the Adamawa Lightening Project, which sought to provide solar powered lamps to 60 families in Bura Lamja village in Adamawa State; and the Renovation of Government Secondary School Ombi.

The ELP Programme is a project in partnership with Selfless for Africa Inc. which seeks to give grants to young people to embark on projects that show exemplary leadership and address a prevalent problem in the community. It is focused on providing young teams with sufficient funds in order to fix a problem with sustainable solutions.

The pitch from the students from the University of Ibadan was chosen because it met the criteria of demonstrating that there was indeed a real need; there was a clear outcome with tangible methods to achieving them; organizational strength; urgency; impact; cost feasibility and importantly sustainability.

Ajala Oluwaseyi, the team lead had pitched to provide medical items and needs for the local dispensary at Oke-Ola, and also renovate the almost dilapidated structure. The dispensary is located in a farm settlement in Ogbomoso South Local Government of Oyo State. The farm settlement is surrounded by villages which include: Owolake, Olorunsogo and three others called Ibapon. None of these villages have a single health facility. The only being that in the farm settlement.

Ajayi noted that with $3,250 him and his team could fix new doors and windows, electrical wiring and installations, provide a generator, and paint and decorate the dispensary.

He went further to pitch that he would use the money to also provide supplies such as office desks, chairs and a filing cabinet, minor surgery kit, delivery kit, stethoscope, delivery bed, weighing balance, BP machine, gloves and other medical necessaries.

When asked what his expected results are, he noted that: the project will increase the overall well-being of the villagers by helping pregnant women have safe births, providing care and improving the local economy.

The Abuja Global Shapers Hub would be monitoring the execution of the project from its inception till finish – making sure that the project is executed within the scheduled time frame and also fulfills the purpose for its adoption.

The Hub would also start accepting proposals for the third edition of the Emerging Leaders Program in the next 3 weeks.

The Hub thanks all its partners for seeing to the successful selection of the winner. Particularly the Ventures Platform which was used as the venue for the pitching event, and the Selfless 4 Africa Inc. who fund the programme.